Method for production of hydrocarbons

ABSTRACT

A method for converting methane, ethane, and propane into higher molecular weight hydrocarbons and coproduct hydrogen wherein a molecular oxidant-free gas comprising methane, ethane, and/or propane is exposed to ultraviolet light. Through an oxidative coupling mechanism, the feed gases are converted to free radicals which combine to form higher molecular weight hydrocarbons.

[0001] This application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/275,265 filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Dec. 19, 2000.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to a process for producing liquids containing hydrocarbons of a higher molecular weight than methane from a hydrocarbon feedstock containing a major proportion of methane.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Gas-to-liquid conversion technologies use chemical means to convert methane or natural gas to a liquid form suitable for ready transport or direct use. This conversion is accomplished by altering the composition of the hydrocarbon gas molecules to form stable liquids that can be used directly as a chemical feedstock or transportation fuel. There are two known approaches to accomplish this conversion; partial oxidation and oxidative coupling. In the partial oxidation process, hydrocarbons, oxygen and/or water are converted to a synthetic gas containing molecular hydrogen and carbon monoxide. These constituents are recombined in a second process to produce paraffins and high molecular weight fuels such as diesel fuel and heating oil. In the oxidative coupling reaction, hydrocarbon gases are directly converted into desirable liquid hydrocarbons through a series of free radical addition mechanisms.

[0004] Known oxidative coupling technologies use oxygen to convert methane to the methyl free radical and water in the presence of a catalyst at temperatures of 800 to 1000° C. The major challenge of these technologies is the rapid conversion of the radicals to carbon dioxide before the radicals can link-up, greatly limiting the conversion to higher molecular weight compounds.

[0005] Previous synthetic routes to producing higher molecular weight hydrocarbons from lower molecular weight hydrocarbons have started from feedstocks which have at least two carbon atoms. Such feedstocks are initially dimerised or oligomerised at temperatures in the region of 500-600° C. Such processes are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,677,363; 4,721,828; 4,769,828; and 5,414,176.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention provides an coupling process which does not require oxygen or any other oxidant thereby eliminating the conversion of methane to carbon dioxide. In this new process, methane is converted to a methyl radical and a hydrogen radical by exposing the gas to ultraviolet radiation. The formation of these free radicals is confirmed by the presence of ethane and H₂ in the reaction product gas. These molecules are produced when two methyl radicals combine to produce ethane and two hydrogen radicals combine to form H₂.

[0007] Since molecular oxidants are not used in this invention, no oxygen-containing products are produced resulting in increased conversion to higher molecular weight materials. The final gas product from this process may contain only H₂, which can easily be converted to electrical energy in a fuel cell.

[0008] It has now been found that higher molecular weight hydrocarbons can be produced from lower molecular weight hydrocarbon feedstocks, and particularly those containing predominately less than three carbon atoms in the presence of ultra violet radiation, a photocatalyst (optionally), and in the absence of molecular oxidants. Accordingly, the present invention provides a process for producing liquids containing hydrocarbons of a higher molecular weight than methane comprising bringing into contact in the vapor phase a hydrocarbon feedstock, such as one containing a major proportion of methane, and optionally, a photocatalyst composition in the presence of ultraviolet radiation and in the absence of molecular oxidants.

[0009] The hydrocarbon feedstock can have at least 50% w/w, preferably at least 70% w/w of methane, more preferably at least 90% w/w and may be admixed with other molecular weight hydrocarbons such as ethane or propane. The additional hydrocarbon in the feedstock, if any, may include ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene or mixtures thereof. The feedstock may contain in addition, other open chain hydrocarbons containing between 3 and 8 carbon atoms as coreactants. Specific examples of such additional coreactants are propane, propylene, n-butane, isobutane, n-butenes and isobutene. Suitable feedstock gas may include methane, natural gas, off gas from decomposing biomass, methane from coal mines, and waste methane gas from chemical processes.

[0010] The hydrocarbon feedstock is thereafter contacted in the vapor phase with light in wavelength regions of about 150 nm to about 280 nm, i.e., ultra-violet radiation, and in the absence of molecular oxidants. The reaction is preferably conducted at a temperature between about 0° C. and about 800° C., preferably above about 60° C. The reaction is preferably conducted in an inert atmosphere. The inert atmosphere may be provided by a gas inert under the reaction conditions such as nitrogen. In fact, once the reactor has been initially flushed with an inert gas such as nitrogen to remove any oxygen or oxidising gases, there is no need to add further amounts of the inert gas to the reaction system. Any unreacted hydrocarbon feedstock and by-products recovered from the reaction products may be recycled to the reaction.

[0011] Photocatalytic reactions using the titanium oxide catalyst have been the focus of research as an environmentally-friendly and safe means of converting light energy into useful chemical energy at ordinary temperatures without generating any pollutants. Other photocatalysts, such as platinum, can be used as well. Photocatalytic reactions proceed when the reaction systems are irradiated with ultraviolet-light in wavelength regions shorter than about 380 nm necessitating the use of an ultraviolet light source. Preferably, the ultraviolet radiation is provided at a wavelength of about 150 nm to about 280 nm.

[0012] The feedstock gas may be maintained at an increased pressure to increase molecular interactions with the gas and thereby decrease the necessary reaction time. Although the reaction will proceed within a feedstock gas maintained as less than atmospheric pressures, preferably the feedstock gas is maintained at a pressure greater than about 4 psig during the exposure to the ultraviolet radiation.

[0013] The reaction may occur in any reaction vessel which provides sufficient contact between the ultraviolet light and the feedstock gas and in the absence of molecular oxidants. In one embodiment, the reaction is conducted in a tube reactor into which the light source has been fitted in the annular space. The reactor has an inlet and outlet valve and a jacket providing for the exchange of a temperature controlling liquid. The ultraviolet lamp may be a standard Pen-Ray lamp (UVP Products) fitted with a fused quartz envelop which does not allow for the transmittance of the vacuum UV (minus 200 nm) mercury spectral emission, or a UV lamp fitted with a special quartz envelop which permits transmittance of the ultraviolet light. Preferably, the source of ultraviolet radiation permits more than 80% transmittance of the vacuum ultraviolet light.

[0014] The level of oxygen in the present process is maintained as low as possible to reduce the production of oxygenated products that ultimately interfere with the radical reaction thereby decreasing performance. Preferably, oxygen is maintained at a level of less than about 5%, more preferably less than about 3%, and most preferably less than about 1% in the reaction feedstock.

[0015] The higher molecular weight hydrocarbons are recovered by condensing the products to a liquid in an air or liquid chilled cooling vessel. Hydrogen gas is recovered with a hydrogen specific membrane.

EXAMPLES

[0016] A series of batch studies were conducted to examine efficiencies of two types of ultraviolet lamp for the conversion of methane to hydrogen and higher molecular weight hydrocarbons. One UV source investigated was a standard Pen-Ray lamp (UVP Products Cat. No. 90-0004-01). This lamp was fitted with a fused quartz envelop which does not allow for the transmittance of the vacuum UV (minus 200 nm) mercury spectral emission. The second UV lamp was fitted with a special quartz envelop which permitted more than 80% transmittance of the vacuum UV light.

[0017] In these tests, the selected UV lamp source was placed in the annular space of a {fraction (1/2)}-inch diameter stainless steel jacketed tube reactor. A schematic of the tube reactor is provided in FIG. 1. A cooling or heated solution was recirculated through the heat exchanger jacket to maintain targeted temperatures. During these tests the reactor was charged with 30 psig methane (CP Grade) and the stagnant gas exposed to UV light for 18 hours. At the conclusion of each test, the product gas was analyzed by hydrogen content (GC analysis). Results from these studies are summarized in the following table. Batch 18 Hour UV/Temperature Study Mole Percent Hydrogen in Reaction Gas Mixture Reaction Standard Quartz Envelop Special Quartz Envelop Lamp Temperature, Lamp (80% Transmittance ° C. (Minimal Vacuum UV) of Vacuum UV) 10 0.069 Not Tested 15 0.097 Not Tested 20 0.240 0.911 30 0.368 Not Tested 40 0.635 Not Tested 50 Not Tested 0.319 60 0.310 3.9  60 (Rerun) Not Tested 4.03 

[0018] These results show that highest hydrogen production was achieved when methane was exposed to vacumm UV (minus 200 nm) radiation at a reaction temperature of 60° C.

Effect of Long Exposure Time and Air (Oxygen) on Vacuum UV Process

[0019] To determine the long-term effectiveness of the special quartz process, the tube reactor was charged with 10 psig methane (CP grade) and the gas exposed to UV radiation at a controlled temperature of 60° C. After eight days of UV exposure, a sample of process gas was taken for analysis and the reaction mixture spiked with a small amount of air, and the process gas resampled three and four days later. Results from these tests are provided in the following table. Mole Percent in Product Gas 8-Day UV Exposure Third Day After Forth Day After Analyte -No Air Air Spike Air Spike Hydrogen 32 25 25 Methane 59 57 53 Carbon 0.25 3.3 3.9 Dioxide GC/MS Higher Molecular Weight Hydrocabons from C2 to C12 Analysis in Product Gas

[0020] After eight days of exposure to vacuum UV radiation, approximately 40 mole percent of the initial methane charge was converted to hydrogen and higher molecular weight hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbons containing up to 12 carbons were found in the product gas mixture. The introduction of a small amount of air consumed hydrogen and increased the carbon dioxide levels in the product gas. The air spike also reduced the rate of methane conversion from approximately 5% per day to less than 2% per day. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of producing hydrocarbon material, comprising: exposing a feedstock comprising a first hydrocarbon material in vapor phase to ultra violet radiation in the absence of a molecular oxidant to produce higher molecular weight hydrocarbons; and recovering a second hydrocarbon material having a higher molecular weight than said first hydrocarbon material.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first hydrocarbon material comprises methane.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the method produces hydrogen gas and the method further comprises recovering the hydrogen gas.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the feedstock is exposed to ultra violet radiation in the presence of a photocatalyst.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the photocatalyst is selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide and platinum.
 6. The method of claim 4, wherein the catalyst is titanium dioxide.
 7. The method of claim 2, wherein the feedstock is maintained at temperature greater than about 400° C. during the step of exposing.
 8. The method of claim 2, wherein the feedstock is maintained at a pressure of greater than about 4 psig during the step of exposing.
 9. The method of claim 2, wherein the ultra violet light is generated by a source separated from the feedstock by a gas-impermeable divider.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the gas-impermeable divider is double-walled quartz.
 11. The method of claim 2, wherein the feedstock is selected from the group consisting of natural gas, off gas from decomposing biomass, methane from coal mines, and waste gas from chemical processes.
 12. The method of claim 2, wherein the feedstock comprises at least about 15% ethane.
 13. The method of claim 2, wherein the feedstock comprises at least about 15% propane. 